Part 5/8:
Examining the diets of Civil War soldiers reveals a variety of rations shaped by several factors: status (were they Union or Confederate soldiers?), location, season, and more. Rations varied substantially based on these conditions, with average Union soldiers receiving staple foods such as salt pork, beans, dried fruit, and of course, hardtack. Notably, John Billings, an author of "Hardtack and Coffee," criticized the unsatisfactory quality of rations, claiming corruption among food inspectors and their complicity in allowing subpar supplies to make their way to the soldiers.